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"A Perfect Storm"

With the 2018 open enrollment period just around the corner, it’s clear the Trump Administration’s sabotage of the Affordable Care Act is resulting in chaos in our health care system. According to insurers, the uncertainty and confusion injected into the system by President Trump is making enrollment much more difficult – which is why Republican leaders should commit to bringing the bipartisan Murray-Alexander bill to the Floor for a vote. From the Washington Post:
 
“Health insurers heading into the 2018 Affordable Care Act enrollment season say they’re staying laser focused on maximizing sign-ups, even as Republicans remain in disarray and even denial over the seven-year-old health-care law.”
 
A big funding infusion that could help lower Obamacare premiums is in flux just 12 days before enrollment starts. President Trump sent mixed signals this week about whether he’d support legislation funding subsidies for lower-income Americans to get coverage. A compromise measure crafted by Sens. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Patty Murray (D-Wash.) was embraced by two dozen Senate Democrats and Republicans on Thursday afternoon.”
 
“Yet most insurers have already finalized plan offerings for the six-week enrollment period starting Nov. 1, when 11 million or so Americans are expected to shop on Healthcare.gov and state-run marketplaces. Insurers are more immediately worried about consumer confusion stemming from the debate over halting the CSRs, especially given the administration’s recent cuts to outreach and advertising.”
 
“‘Whenever our members hear in the media that these things are going away, their immediate thought is “Oh my gosh, does this affect me now?”’ said Melanie Coons, a spokeswoman for Premera Blue Cross, which participates in Alaska and Washington state’s marketplaces.”
 
The situation could further worsen after the 2018 enrollment period, which some have described as a perfect storm, with fewer enrollment dollars, a halved timeframe and heightened uncertainty. That’s why insurers say for now, they’re just focusing on the next two months.”